March 2024

Japan Businesses Inspect Scallop Processing in Mexico; U.S. Market in Mind Amid China’s Import Ban on Seafood

premiumkayaks.com March 27, 2024

Kayo Goto / The Yomiuri Shimbun Japanese businesspeople observe scallop processing at a factory in Ensenada, Mexico, on Friday. By Kayo Goto / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent 16:09 JST, March 17, 2024 ENSENADA, Mexico — Japanese businesspeople inspected scallop processing at factories in northwestern Mexico on Friday in a bid to export the seafood to the United States. Amid China’s import ban on Japanese marine products, the U.S. is seen as an alternative destination. Representatives from 14 companies, mostly in the fishing industry, observed the plants in Ensenada that have started processing the shells on a trial basis. The tour was organized by the Japan External Trade Organization in response to China’s import ban on Japanese marine products following last year’s release of treated water into the sea from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Importing bivalves from Japan is prohibited in the United States. They must first be processed and have their adductors taken out before being shipped to the country. Factories in China used to process many Japanese scallops before banning marine products from Japan. Mexico is considered a potential alternative for processing scallops since it is close to the huge market in the United States and has cheap labor costs. Until now, the Ensenada plant had never processed scallops, Ragnar Gutierrez, director general of one of the processing companies, said, expressing his willingness to train workers and increase investment for that purpose. “Business” POPULAR ARTICLE

CONTINUE READING ➞

Urban walrus and fighting frogs: The charming winners of the 2024 British Wildlife Photography Awards

premiumkayaks.com March 23, 2024

An alert hare, clinging barnacles, and a sly fox on an urban prowl were all honored. By PopSci Staff | Published Mar 23, 2024 8:33 AM EDT “What’s All the Fuss About?” In this photograph, the Arctic walrus who had come ashore to rest on the harbour slipway in Scarborough has lifted its head as a car passed on Foreshore Road. The image is lit by the streetlights to the left and features the town’s fishing boats in the background. Despite being taken handheld at 1/80th of a second at f/1.6, an ISO of 6400 was still needed to properly expose Thor and the slipway at 2:28am. Will Palmer, Urban Wildlife | Runner-up A fascinating photograph of a barnacle-covered soccer ball that traveled thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean took home top honors at the 2024 British Wildlife Photography Awards this month. Photographer Ryan Stalker snapped the image near the shores of Dorset, saying: “Although the ball is waste and should not be in the sea, I do wonder about the journey the ball has been on. From initially being lost, then spending time in the tropics where the barnacles are native and perhaps years in the open ocean before arriving in Dorset.” The photograph beat out 14,000 other entries across 10 categories to be named the Grand Prize Winner. “Ocean Drifter.” Ocean Drifter is a photo of a football that is covered in goose barnacles below the waterline. Above the water is just a football. But below the waterline is a colony of creatures. The football was washed up in Dorset after making a huge ocean journey across the Atlantic and then returned to the sea for the photo to be taken. Goose barnacles are not native to the UK but can wash up on our shores during powerful Atlantic storms. Although the ball is waste and should not be in the sea, I do wonder about the journey the ball has been on. From initially being lost, then spending time in the tropics where the barnacles are native and perhaps years in the open ocean before arriving in Dorset. However, this waste can also bring creatures that may survive in UK waters and could become invasive species. More human waste in the sea could increase the risk of more creatures making it to our shores. Image: © Ryan Stalker, British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 and Winner of Coast & Marine “The British Wildlife Photography Awards brings to light the spectacular tapestry of Britain’s natural heritage,” said Will Nicholls, Director of BWPA. “This collection is more than just a gallery of images; it is a celebration, a reminder of the enduring beauty of British wildlife and a call to preserve the natural spaces that we are so fortunate to have in Britain.” “Starling at Night.” I had been observing the birds in my garden as they fed on sunflower seeds and peanuts from the feeder for some time. I aimed to capture the sense of movement and flight patterns in my images while still preserving the fine details of the birds. To achieve this, I used flash in rear curtain sync mode. Timing was crucial, and I needed to carefully balance the flash with the ambient light to record the starling’s trail at the beginning of the exposure, while a brief burst of flash would freeze the bird in mid-flight. Image: © Mark Williams/British Wildlife Photography Awards, Animal Portraits | Winner “Three Frogs in Amplexus.” Every March, our garden ponds suddenly come alive with hundreds of frogs that seem to appear overnight from nowhere. I have been photographing them for many years, and I am always fascinated and amused by their antics. Here, there has been a competition to mate with a female. For a lot of the time there is a frenzy of activity, but sometimes they freeze long enough to get a shot. The image is taken with the lens at water level, and the background is a distant larch tree. Image: © Ian Mason/British Wildlife Photography Awards, Animal Behaviour | Winner “Day Walker.” This vixen had taken up residence in an electricity substation after being pushed out of her parental territory. The fenced-off area provided her with a quiet place to rest away from the busy city. She would often walk along this wall, and I was able to capture this photo through the gaps in the metal fencing, while making the most of some striking lens flare. Image: © Simon Withyman/British Wildlife Photography Awards, Urban Wildlife | Winner “Running on Water.” I woke up at 4:45am with the hope of capturing backlit waterfowl images at Frensham Pond in Surrey. I lay down at the edge of the pond and waited for the birds to become active. As the morning progressed, rays of sunlight began to shine through trees along the edge of the pond, creating spotlights in the morning mist. This created a beautiful atmosphere, which I aimed to capture in my images. This coot was fleeing a fight, running across the water to take flight through the mist and rays of light. Image: © Max Wood/British Wildlife Photography Awards, RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 and 15-17 Years Winner “The Tightrope Walker.” In this image, you can see a red fox walking along a tree branch at a considerable height from the ground, demonstrating that these animals are true tightrope walkers of nature. The fox is perfectly framed between the branches and its silhouette is subtly highlighted by the sun’s rays falling on it. Image: © Daniel Valverde Fernandez/British Wildlife Photography Awards, Habitat | Winner “Dancing in the Dark.” ‘Dancing in the Dark’ portrays a pair of great crested grebes engaged in their courtship ritual at sunrise. This carefully choreographed dance serves to strengthen their bonds during the mating season. The photo was captured in the early hours on an urban lake in North Tyneside – once a former mining site, now thriving with wildlife, it hosts up to four separate pairs of grebes, competing for territory and displaying their flamboyant courtship style. Spending considerable time

CONTINUE READING ➞

Skipper missing at sea: urgent appeal for information

premiumkayaks.com March 17, 2024

UPDATE SUNDAY MARCH 17 at 4pm: NSRI – SODWANA BAY and NORTH – Sunday, 17 March. Search for missing skipper John Matambu continues after the charter ski-boat MAGNUM TOO located: During an extensive search involving multiple agencies and a fixed wing aircraft the charter fishing ski-boat MAGNUM TOO was located wrecked and extensively burnt out in the vicinity of Dobela on the Mozambique coastline this morning. Law Enforcement agencies response team are on site investigating. There remains no signs of the skipper John Matambu or an as yet unidentified man who reportedly chartered the fishing vessel. Both men remain missing in unknown circumstances. Thoughts are with the family and colleagues of John Matambu in this difficult time. It remains unknown what has happened that led to the vessel beaching and found to be completely burnt out. Police and Law Enforcement, Security agencies and maritime authorities are continuing in an extensive search and investigations to try to locate the 2 missing men and to piece together what has transpired. We are appealing to anyone with information that can assist Police in this search to contact Police on 10111 and or NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) 0870949774. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A charter boat captained by a well-known KZN North Coast skipper has gone missing at sea near the border with Mozambique. The National Sea Rescue Institute said that around 5pm on Saturday March 16, NSRI Richards Bay were alerted to concerns of a charter vessel ski boat MAGNUM TOO, a 21-foot Yeld Cat ski-boat, missing at sea in uncertain circumstances. NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said circumstances appeared to indicate that foul play might be involved. “NSRI are hopeful that this is not the case,” Lambinon said. The NSRI believed that the ski-boat MAGNUM TOO may have departed Sodwana Bay during the early hours of Saturday March 16. NSRI Richards Bay duty crew and NSRI St Lucia duty crew had been activated, Lambinon said. “A search towards Sodwana Bay and North along the coastline were initiated including a private fixed wing aircraft and as yet there remains no signs of the ski-boat MAGNUM TOO with local competent skipper John Matambu onboard and a male passenger or passengers (uncertain) that we are hoping are well and safe.” A missing persons report had been opened at Mbazwana Police Station. The SA Police Services Police Sea Borderline Control, Police Search and Rescue, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), Ezemvelo KZN Wild Life, local community security companies, local public members, local resorts and lodges, along that entire stretch of coastline in that area, of Sodwana Bay and North of Sodwana Bay, were assisting to gather information, conduct investigations and conduct search efforts, Lambinon said. MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) were assisting. Lambinon said, “It appears that persons, or a person, a male, that have not been identified, may have chartered the ski-boat that was expected to return to Sodwana Bay during Saturday afternoon. “Real concerns are emerging that appear to suggest possible foul play and concerns are for the skipper John Matambu’s safety and his passenger/s. “We reiterate we are hopeful that this is not the case [but] fears are that the ski-boat MAGNUM, that may have been seen to be heading North, past Banga Neck, and may have been pinned in the vicinity of Inhaca (unconfirmed) – may be involved in nefarious circumstances that are rapidly increasing concerns.” At 10pm Saturday, a report had been received suggesting the ski-boat may have been spotted as far North as Santa Maria on the Mozambique coastline. Telkom Maritime Radio Services were broadcasting a marine radio all ships alert for vessels along the Northern Coastline of KZN (East Coast – Indian Ocean), and beyond the South African Eastern coastline border, to be on the look out and to report any sightings of ski-boat MAGNUM TOO. “Concerns are rapidly increasing,” Lambinon said. “It is not normal for this well known and respected local skipper to fail to report in and/or to return to Sodwana.” During the night local community and coast watchers had kept a lookout for any red distress flares or any sighting of the missing ski-boat. Lambinon said: “It appears that the individual/s who chartered the boat may have provided false information as to their identity(this is not confirmed and may be a misunderstanding) – after arriving in the Sodwana Bay area, reportedly, on a motor bike. Efforts to locate the charter passenger/s, the skipper John Matambu and ski-boat MAGNUM TOO remain unsolved. “We are appealing to anyone with information that can assist Police in this search to contact Police on 10111 and or NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) 0870949774 or MRCC 0219383300. “Thoughts with the family of the skipper in this difficult time. We are hopeful that the boat, crew and passengers are found safe.”

CONTINUE READING ➞

Wild-caught barramundi is a dining table favourite, but can it continue?

premiumkayaks.com March 17, 2024

When tourists head to northern Australia, many people want to try some local, wild-caught barramundi. Jason Hanna, who owns nine restaurants across Darwin, said barramundi was always “extremely popular”, outselling other fish two-to-one. “I think our tourists want to eat something that we’ve been spruiking as iconic — that’s a fresh wild-caught barramundi,” he said. “People want quality, they’re prepared to pay for it, and they’re definitely prepared to pay for local.” But with increasing pressure on the wild-caught barramundi industry, is the future of this iconic dish in trouble? Concerns raised about gill nets For decades, the commercial fishing sector in northern Australia has used gill nets — long rectangular nets placed near river mouths — to catch barramundi. Gill nets have been used by the commercial barramundi industry for decades.(Supplied) But the use of the nets has been called in to question by a range of different groups. The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMSC) has called for a phase-out of the use of gill nets to protect threatened species. “Gill netting is indiscriminate in the threatened species it catches and when it has been poorly managed, we see some really disastrous outcomes,” AMSC scientist Leonardo Guida said. Last year, Arnhem Land traditional owners suspended commercial access to areas which had been some of the most important fishing grounds for the sector. “Traditional owners have deep, increasing concerns about the impacts of commercial fishing practices, particularly gill netting, and the impact on barramundi fish stocks that they are seeing in their communities,” a Northern Land Council spokesperson said. With the loss of access in Arnhem Land, restrictions were placed on commercial boats forced into areas normally only fished by recreational fishers. The Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the NT (AFANT) criticised the restrictions and called for quotas on commercial fishers and for the NT government to consider buying back fishing licences. Meanwhile, in Queensland, the state government is phasing out the use of gill nets in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and will place more restrictions on gill net use in the Gulf of Carpentaria in May. Industry fighting for its future With pressure coming from all sides, the NT Seafood Council (NTSC), which represents the commercial sector, has hit back with an advertising campaign. “Don’t let fear mongering and mistruths take away your right to have your share of the iconic Northern Territory barramundi,” the NT Seafood Council advertisement said. NT Seafood Council has placed ads in newspapers and on social media, defending the wild-caught barramundi industry. (ABC Rural: Daniel Fitzgerald) The NTSC rejected suggestions the industry and the use of gill nets was unsustainable and that it put threatened and endangered species at risk. Chair Joanne Butterworth-Gray said the industry was in a fight for its future. “If we want to ensure the public can have iconic barramundi at the pub or buy it in the fish shop, then we need commercial fishing to exist,” Ms Butterworth-Gray said. “It’s not just the generations of commercial fishers that are fighting for their futures, it’s the future of the young people who are coming up through those families.” The NTSC said it was rolling out real-time monitoring on commercial vessels “to provide transparency and accountability”. Is the barramundi population under threat? The NT’s commercial catch has been on a steady decline over the past decade, with the sector harvesting 160 tonnes in the eight-month 2023 season, down from 435 tonnes in the 2013 season. Data from NT Fisheries shows the commercial barramundi catch has been on a steady decline.(ABC) NT Fisheries estimate recreational fishers caught and took home somewhere between 88 and 186 tonnes of barramundi over the 2023 calendar year. AFANT chief executive David Ciaravolo said he was not concerned with overall barramundi stock sustainability. “[Rather], the issues relating to localised depletion caused by the use of gill nets, impacts on tourism experiences caused by gill netting,” Mr Ciaravolo said. “The concentration of gill netting at the Daly and Roper catchments, and the constant concern and uncertainty over the future of the experiences, value and jobs in the recreational and tourism industry, given there is too much net and seemingly perpetual conflict.” NT Fisheries said the reduction in commercial catch reflected the diminishing fishing grounds available to the commercial sector rather than a barramundi population decline. “The maximum sustainable yield for barramundi is estimated at approximately 1,500 tonnes, meaning the barramundi fishery across all sectors is sitting at approximately 22 per cent of what could potentially be sustainably harvested,” a spokesperson for NT Fisheries said. Hundreds of people flock to the Daly River each year for barramundi fishing competitions.(ABC News: Avani Dias) However, Mr Ciaravolo said NT Fisheries estimates were “problematic because a good chunk of [the NT coastline] could not be ‘potentially harvested’ last season and cannot be harvested this season”. Plenty of farmed barramundi While the wild-caught sector is on the decline, the amount of farmed barramundi produced in Australia has continued to grow. The farmed barramundi sector pumped out nearly 12,400 tonnes of fish in the 2022/23 financial year. Humpty Doo Barramundi, Australia’s largest fish farm, produced 150 tonnes in just one week leading up to Easter last year. But Australia is still importing a huge amount of barramundi. About 15,000 tonnes of barramundi — about 60 per cent of all that is consumed in Australia — is imported each year, mainly from south-east Asia, according to the Australian Barramundi Farmers Association. Is this the future for wild caught barramundi? North Queensland fisherman Chris Bolton knows he’s living many people’s dream — spending time on his boat, rod in hand, catching barramundi — and he’s getting paid to do it. “It’s what I have wanted to do since I was five years old, now I’m actually doing it and making a decent living,” he said. A man on a boat with a line-caught barramundi.(Supplied: Chris Bolton) Selling line-caught barramundi was only made legal in Queensland this year and Mr Bolton is believed to be the only commercial fisherman to take

CONTINUE READING ➞